Actuator cap



y 1965 P. L. CROWELL Q 3,

ACTUATOR CAP Filed Feb. 18, 1963 2 Sheets-Sheet l United States PatentCffice Patented July 20, lfi5 3,195,7ss ACTUA'ETGR CAP Philip L.Qrewell, Racine, Wis, assignor to S. C. Johnson & Sons, inc, Racine,Wis. Filed 1?, 195's, er. No. 25$,il9ii lll Claims. (Cl. 222l32) Thisinvention relates to a dispensing cap for containers such as for aerosoland other pressure-packed fluid materials.

The invention is particularly adapted for use on cans or bottles foraerosol materials or the like wherein an upstanding tubular depressiblevalve stem is provided at the upper portion of the container, which stemwhen depressed opens a spring-pressed valve so as to release up throughthe stem the fluid which is propelled for discharge as an aerosol sprayand also including usually a proportion of propellant fluid which hasbeen packed under pressure in the container along with the aerosolmaterial which is to be propelled. With such constructions, it isdesirable to provide an overcap assembly of a form which will bedecorative, convenient and easy to operate, as by applying pressure to afinger button for depressing the valve stem. To this end, it isdesirable that the overcap be of a considerable diameter and to includea passage of substantial length through which the fluid may be directedgenerally radially outwardly to a discharge orifice at the peripheralwall of the cap.

For reasons of economy, convenience of manufacture and to present adecorative appearance, it is desirable to form such overcap arrangementsof an inexpensive molded plastic material, and this involves certainproblems in properly forming the above-mentioned passage of some lengthin the plastic material. If such passage is made quite small,difiiculties will be encountered in so forming same so as to insure atruly and permanently free passage extending unobstructed in thepredetermined desired direction. Accordingly it has been the practicegenerally in order to avoid this difiiculty, to provide such passages oflarger cross-section than essential for their proper functioning in use.Yet this in turn has the result that the aerosol or the aerosol andpropellant mixture is discharged from the valve stem into a passagespace of such relatively large dimensions that droplets of the materialor mixture tend to form and accumulate on the walls of the passage andthese may be irregularly blown out with the aerosol spray. It isdesirable, however, that such aerosol sprays be free of such droplets orparticles which have a diameter for example, larger than of the order ofabout 50 microns.

In accordance with the present invention, these problems in themanufacture of plastic over-caps are overcome by forming theconstruction in such a way that same is initially molded with a dischare passage of quite large cross-section and then a suitable insertpreferably of plastic material is lodged in such passage, the inserthaving a shape such that in conjunction with the wall surfaces of thepassage, it will still leave a passage of a desired small predeterminedcross-section with assurance that the passage despite its small sizewill be permanently free of obstructions and irregularities. With such asmall passage, the formation of droplets therein is avoided.

Such insert may also be preferably integrally molded at its outer endportion with a so-called mechanical break-up button formation,comprising a small cavity containing on its inside wall and surroundingan exit opening of pinhole size, a plurality of small channels forimparting a swirl to the mixture just before it is discharged.

Various further and more specific objects, features and advantages ofthe invention will appear from the description given below, taken inconnection with the accompanying drawings, illustrating by way ofexample a preferred form of the invention.

in the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing the upper portions of a containeras provided with an overcap construction in accordance with a preferredembodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a side elevational view of the construction of FIG. 1 asviewed in a direction looking toward the aerosol discharge orifice;

FIG. 3 is an enlarged vertical sectional view, taken substantially alongline 3-3 of FIG. 2, and illustrating the manner in which the overcap isapplied to the top portion of a pressure-packed container;

FIG. 4 is a plan view of the overcap as viewed from the undersidethereof;

FIG. 5 is a vertical sectional view, partly broken away, showing thoseportions of FIG. 3 which are to contain the above-mentioned insert andthe left hand portion of FIG. 5 being a side elevational view partly insection showing the insert in a position ready to be slid into place forforming the overcap assembly;

FIG. 6 is a top plan view of the insert piece; and

FIG. 7 is an enlarged sectional view taken substantially along line '7of FIG. 5. 7

Referring now to the drawings in further detail, there is indicated atit the upper portion of a pressure-packed container which may forexample comprise a sheet metal can or a bottle having a top sheet metalportion as at 11 suitably permanently secured in place in any desiredknown manner. A hollow valve-operating stem 12 extends upwardly throughthe top of the container, this stem being depressible so as to operate asuitable known form of spring pressure-closable valve at the locationindicated by dotted lines at 13. The underside of such valve may inknown manner have attached thereto a suitable flexible plastic dip tubeas at 14 extending down within the lower portion of the container. Thecontainer is packed under pressure in a known way with a suitableaerosol material or the like which is to be used as a space deodorant,or as an insecticide, or for some other desired purpose, together with apropellant fluid such as a normalty gaseous hydrocarbon liquefied underpressure or a halogenated hydrocarbon propellant such for example as atype well known under the trademark Freon. Thus, when thevalve-operating stem 12 is depressed to open the valve at 13, theaerosol mixture will be discharged through the stem.

The portions of FIG. 3 as thus far described in the foregoing paragraphare, of course, of a typical well known construction.

The overcap assembly embodying the features of the present invention maycomprise a molded plastic body portion 115 formed for example of highdensity polyethylene and an insert piece 16 which may for example beformed of molded medium density polyethylene. The body portion comprisesan upstanding and generally cylindrical and relatively thin wall portion17, which may, if desired, be slightly tapered upwardly and inwardly,same terminating at the top in a preferably horizontally-extending rim1% which will provide a ridge adapted to be engaged by the bottom ofanother like container, to provide a stable support therefor whenpluralities of the containers are packed for shipment. This rimsurrounds as best shown in FIGS. 1 and 3, a central depressed area 19,containing a tab 26 adapted to be pressed downwardly by the users fingeror thumb which may be extended through an interrupted region as at 21 inthe rim portion, in the manner indicated in FIG. 3.

v ly joins; the wall portions of the cap.

The tab as best shown in FIGS. 1, 3 and 5 is integraL lyformed with afront portion 23, the upper edge of which may be coterminous with therim 18 and the lower portion of which as at 24 preferably flexibly andintegral- Thedepending front portion 23 of the tab 26 is prefe rably;cha-nnel-shaped, ridges 25 at either side thereof being provided, oneof thesebeing shownin FIG. 3 where it will be noted that same extendsdown on the inside of .zthB wall 17 and is integrally molded there withsuchwall ,portion, whereby the Ywholedepending front of the tabconstruction :is rendered quite rigid, yet same is capable of beingtilted by swinging somewhat about a flexible portionof the wall 17asshown in FIG. 3 at the region where the. ridges 25. join'the wall.

As best shown inFIG. 5, the underside of the tab por- ;.tion 20 isformedwith an enlarged cavity 26 which is to receive .the insert 16. Thiscavity at its inner end cornrnunicates..witha cavity 27, the lower endof which isv shaped to receiveand fit on the valve-operating stem 12 Thewalls of the cavity 26 integrally depend from the finger-tab 20 and areof dimensions such that :thewhole tab construction, including its frontportion 23,

is rigid; whereby when pressure is applied thereto by the I-finger,-1his'whole structure as containing the insert 16' .will .be'tiltable as arigid-unit about a flexible portion of .the wall. 17, thus insuring thatno parts of the discharge orifice and fluid cavities will be bent,deflected or possibly squeezed shut from their predetermined shapes.

:Referringin further detail to the construction of the:

insert 16 as shown in FIGS. 5, 6 and 7, this part has an .elongated bodyportion 28, adaptedto fit closely within the cavity 26. The upper edgeof this portion is formed with a channel 29 of a semi-circularcross-section and thischannel when brought into position against theupper? .wall 30 of the: cavity 26, will form the desired passage- -ofsmallcross-section for discharging'the'aerosol or aero- Isol mixturefrom the cavity 27 to the outer end of the insert piece.

'At its inner end,-the upper edge of the inner portion: 28 may extendinwardlyand downwardly as at 31 at an.

:angle corresponding generallyto the angular position of 9f the insert-16 may be formed with a cavity 35, which when the insert is slid intoposition, will be largely filled by a portion 35a of correspondingshape, formed just above the outer portion of cavity 26.

As best shown in FIG..7, the left hand face of the cavity 35 'is formedwith a plurality of'small channels 36 directed tangentially toward aquite small chamber 37 at the center of which is an exit orifice 38 ofpinhole size, from which the aerosol spray emanates after thematerialhas been given somewhat of a swirling motion by the channels 36onits way from the channel 29 to the orifice 38. The outer end of theformation 35a which is received within the; cavity 35 may, as shown, heformed at an angle and with a protruding portion thereon so as toprovide, with the end face 39 at a like angle within the cavity 35, aclosure for the channels 36 which would be open to the space '35 exceptfor the protruding portion 40. This. portion is surrounded by an annularrecess 40a, which provides an annular passage for the dischargingmaterial in flowing from the channel 29 to the channels 36. The partsdescribed above in this paragraph provide the equivalent of theso-called mechanical break-up button herein- I above referred to andsimilar to what has heretofore sometimes been provided as a separateremovable piece in which the discharged aerosol material ormixture'isreceived, swirled and separated into fine particles beforebeing finally discharged from an orifice. The mechanical break-up buttonis a well known expedient in the aerosol art and is of course, notessential to the invention herein It is often employed'to improve thequality of the spray, especially with three phase systems, i.e. systemsin which the ingredients in the container comprise two liquid phases anda gas phase.

The orifice 38, as shown, is preferably directed outwardly and somewhatdownwardly at a' suitable angle so that the user may direct the aerosolspray therefrom conand the annular chamber 40a',.are preferably placed"at right angles, as shown, to the axis of the orifice.

As shown inFiGS. 3 and 4', the space within the body of the cap may beformed with a depending flange 41, adapted to engage with a snap-on fitupon-a rim portion 42 of the valve cup'9 on the top of the container 11.'If desired, the flange 41' as shown in FIGS. 3 and 4,-may beinterrupted or formed with a notch as at 41a adapted to receive a detentportion as at 4111 formed on the bottom 'of the liquid in the container,for example at a position substantially directly below the orifice,thereby making it possible for the user to utilize substantially all ofthe aerosol material or mixture which remains liquefied in the bottom ofthe container.

Aplurality of strengthening ribs as at 43-may be molded on the interiorof the flange 41 and other connecting strengthening ribs between theflange. 41 and the wall 17 may be provided, as indicated at 44 and 45.The outer edges of the tab 26 may terminate in a strengthening'ridge asat 46 and also the space 47 within which the tab 20 is located may besurrounded with a strengthening ridge as at 48. The outer dependinglow-er edges of the wall 17 as shown in FIG. 6, are adapted to engagewithin an annular channel as at 50 formed around the periphery of the.top of the container 11.

Although a certain particular embodiment of the inv'ention'is hereindisclosed for purposes of explanation, furthermodifications thereof,after study of this specification will be apparent to those skilled inthe art to which the invention pertains. Reference should accordingly behad to the appended claims in determining the scope of the invention.

What is claimed and desired to be secured by Letters Patent is: 1. Anovercap member'for aerosol dispensing container members of the typehaving an upstanding tubular discharge valve stem, such overcapcomprising: a body portion of molded plastic material, such body portionhaving an upstanding peripheral wall and a top portion within which adepressibletab area is provided and which has on its underside, meansfor engaging said stem and a passage of large cross-section extendinginwardly from said peripheral wall to a region where it is incommunication with said stern, a separately formed elongated insertelement lodged in said passage and extending longitudinally thereof, aportion along the outer surface of said insert element, in conjunctionwith a portion of the wall surface within said passage, servingconjointly to form an elongated passage of small predeterminedcross-section substantially maller than the cross-section of the passagein said body portion and in communication at one end with said stem andhaving its discharge end of said peripheral wall, a recess on one ofsaid members and a projection on the other of said members, said recessand projections cooperating to prevent relative rotational movement ofsaid members.

2. An overcap for aerosol dispensing containers of the type having avalve with an upstanding tubular discharge valve stem and a curved diptube attached to its lower end extending to the lower portion of thecontainer, said valve being supported in a valve cup member at the topof the container, such overcap comprising: a body portion of moldedplastic material, such body portion having an upstanding peripheral walland a top portion within which a depressible tab area is provided andwhich has on its underside means for engaging said stem and a passage oflarge cross-section extending inwardly from said peripheral wall to aregion where it is in communication with said stem, a separately formedelongated insert element lodged in said passage and extendinglongitudinally thereof, a portion along the outer surface of said insertelement in conjunction with a portion of the wall surface within saidpassage serving conjointly to form an elongated passage of smallpredetermined cross-section substantially smaller than the largecross-section of the passage in said body portion, said passage of smallpredetermined cross-section being in communication at one end with saidstem and having its discharge end at said peripheral wall, a dependingmember extending from said top portion en aging said valve cup, a notchformed on one of said members and a detent formed on the other of saidmembers, said notch and detent cooperating to prevent relativerotational movement of said overcap and container and to maintain thelower end of the dip tube substantially directly below the discharge endof said insert.

3. An overcap for aerosol dispensing containers of the type having anupstanding vertically depressible discharge valve stern, said overcapcomprising a molded body member formed with an upstanding peripheralwall portion and a top portion, a depressible tab recessed within saidtop portion and hingedly attached to said body member, said depressibletab being formed to fit over said valve stem and having provided thereinan elongated tubular cavity which extends between said valve stem and apoint on said peripheral wall portion, an elongated insert member havinga narrow shallow channel grooved along the length of its outer surface,said narrow, shallow channel having a cross-sectional area substantiallysmaller than the cross-sectional area of said elongated tubular cavity,said elongated insert member being lodged within said tubular cavitywhereby said channel cooperates with a portion of the inner wall of saidtubular cavity to define an elongated passageway of reduced crosssection between said valve stem and said peripheral wall portions.

4. An overcap for aerosol dispensing containers of the type having anupstanding tubular discharge valve stem, such overcap comprising a bodymember of molded plastic material, said body member having an upstandingperipheral wall portion and a top portion, a depressible tab formedwithin said top portion, said tab being rigidly and integrally connectedto, and supported by, a front portion which depends therefrom and formsa part of said peripheral wall portion, said front portion beingintegrally formed at its lower edge with a flexible portion of saidupstanding peripheral wall portion, whereby when said tab is depressed,said front portion as sup ported thereby tilts about said flexibleportion, mean-s provided on the underside of said tab for engaging saidstem, said last mentioned means being formed with an internal elongatedtubular cavity which communicates between said stem and said frontportion, and an elongated insert member having a narrow shallow channelgrooved along the length of its outer surface, said narrow, shallowchannel having a cross-sectional area substantially smaller than thecross-sectional area of said tubular cavity, said elongated insertmember being lodged within said tubular cavity whereby said channelcooperates with a portion of the inner wall of said tubular cavity todefine an elongated passageway of reduced cross section between saidvalve stem and said front portion.

5. An overcap for aerosol dispensing containers of the type having anupwardly protruding vertically actuable discharge valve stem, saidovercap comprising a body member of molded plastic material, said bodymember having an upstanding peripheral wall portion for extending aroundthe top of the container in widely spaced relation to said stem, saidbody member having formed therein a passageway of large cross sectionalarea in communication with, and extending between, said stem and a pointon said peripheral wall portion and an elongated plastic insert memberhaving a narrow shallow channel grooved along the length of its outersurface, said narrow, shallow channel having a cross-sectional areasubstantially smaller than the crosssectional area of said tubularcavity, said elongated insert member being lodged within said tubularcavity whereby said channel cooperates with a portion of the inner wallof said tubular cavity to define an elongated passageway of reducedcross section between said valve stem and said point on said peripheralwall portion.

6. An ovcrcap according to claim 5 wherein said insert piece is partlyof wedge shape and is engaged in said passage of large cross-sectionwith a forced lit.

7. in an overcap for aerosol dispensing containers of the type having acentrally located discharge valve stem, the combination of a moldedelement which fits over said valve stem and has formed therein anelongated tubular cavity extending between said valve stem and a pointon the periphery of said overcap, and an elongated insert member havinga narrow shallow channel grooved along the length of its outer surface,said narrow, shallow channel having a crosssectional area substantiallysmaller than the cross-sectional area of said tubular cavity, saidelongated insert member being lodged within said tubular cavity wherebysaid channel cooperates with a portion of the walls of said tubularcavity to define an elongated passageway of reduced cross sectionbetween said valve stem and said overcap periphery.

8. In an overcap for aerosol dispensing containers of the type having acentrally located discharge valve stem, the combination of a moldedelement which fits over said valve stem and has formed therein anelongated tubular cavity extending between said valve stem and a pointon the periphery of said overcap, and an elongated insert member havinga narrow shallow channel grooved along the length of its outer surface,said narrow, shallow channel having a cross-sectional area substantiallysmaller than the cross-sectional area of said elongated tubular cavity,said elongated insert member being lodged within said tubular cavitywhereby said channel cooperates with a portion of the walls of saidtubular cavity to define an elongated passageway of reduced crosssection between said valve stem and said overcap periphery, the outerportion of said insert member being formed with a cavity having a smallaerosol spray discharge orifice opening therefrom, said cavity beinglargely filled by a portion of the material on the underside of saidmolded element, the latter portion in conjunction with the interiorsurface of said cavity being shaped to form a small annular chambercommunicating with said orifice by way of small chan nels extendinggenerally tangentially from said orifice.

9. In an overcap for aerosol dispensing containers of the type having acentrally located discharge valve stem,

the combination of a molded'eleinent which fits over said valve stem andhas formed therein an elongated tubular cavity extending between saidvalve stem and a point on the periphery of said'overcap, and anelongatedinsert member'ha'ving a narrow shallow channel grooved alongthe length of its outer surface, said narrow, shallow channel' having across-sectional area substantially smaller than the cross-sectional areaof said elongated tubular cavity, said elongated insert member beinglodged within 5 said tubular cavity whereby said channel cooperates witha portion of the walls of said tubular cavity to define an elongatedpassageway of reduced cross: section between said valve stem and saidovercap periphery, the outer portion of said insert member being formedwith a cavity having a'small aerosol spray discharge orifice openingtherefrom, said orifice being directed outwardly and at a downwardanglewith respect to said tubular cavity walls, said cavity beinglargely filled by a portion of the material on the underside of saidmolded element, the latter portion in conjunction with the interiorsurface of said cavity 3 cavity extending between said valve stem and apoint on the periphery of said overcap, and an, elongated insert memberclosely fitted within and extending along the length of said tubularcavity, the outenperipheral walls of said insert member being a fullcontact with the corresponding peripheral walls of said cavity, exceptalong a 'narrowgrooved channel substantially smaller in width 'than thediameter of said elongated tubular cavity, said channel being cut intoone of said walls and extending along the'length of 'saidtubular cavityto define an elongated liquid flow passageway of reduced cross sectionbetween said valve stem and said point, the outer portion of said insertmember being formed with a second cavity having a small aerosol spraydischarge orifice opening therefrom said second cavity being largelyfilled by a small channels extending generally tangentially from saidorifice.

11. In on overcap for aerosoldispensing containers of the type havinga'centrally located discharge valve stem,

the combination of a molded element which fits over said valve stem andhas formed therein an elongated tubular cavity extending between saidvalve stem and a point on the periphery of said overcap, and anelongated insert member closely fitted within and extending along thelength of said tubular cavity, the outer peripheral walls of said insertmember being in full contact with the corresponding peripheral walls ofsaid cavity, except along a narrow grooved channel, said narrow groovedchannel having a crosssectional area substantially smaller than thecross sectional area ofsaid elongated tubular cavity, said channel beingcut'into one of said walls and extending along the length of saidtubular cavity to define an elongated liquid flow passageway of reducedcross section between said valve stem and said point.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED I STATES PATENTS 10/58 Abplanalp222570 X 2,678,147 5/54 Abplanalp. 2,702,957 3 /55 Cooprider et 211.2,954,904 10/60 Potoczky. 2,966,283 12/60 Darvie. 2,989,251 6/61Abplanalp et a1. 222562X 3,112,074 11/63 Green 222-394 X LOUIS J. DEMBO,Primary Examiner.

RAPHAEL M. LUPO, Examiner.

1. AN OVERCAP MEMBER FOR AEROSOL DISPENSING CONTAINER MEMBERS OF THETYPE HAVING AN UPSTANDING TUBULAR DISCHARGER VALVE STEM, SUCH OVERCAPCOMPRISING: A BODY PORTION OF MOLDED PLASTIC MATERIAL, SUCH BODY PORTIONHAVING AN UPSTANDING PERIPHERAL WALL AND A TOP PORTION WITHIN WHICH ADEPRESSIBLE TAB AREA IS PROVIDED AND WHICH HAS ON ITS UNDERSIDE, MEANSFOR ENGAGING SAID STEM AND A PASSAGE OF LARGE CROSS-SECTION EXTENDINGINWARDLY FROM SAID PERIPHERAL WALL TO A REGION WHRE IT IS INCOMMUNICATION WITH SAID STEM, A SEPARATELY FORMED ELONGATED INSERTELEMENT LODGED IN SAID PASSAGE AND EXTENDING LONGITUDINALLY THEREOF, APORTION ALONG THE OUTER SURFACE OF SAID INSERT ELEMENT, IN CONJUNCTIONWITH A PORTION OF THE WALL SURFACE WITHIN SAID PASSAGE, SERVINGCONJOINTLY TO FORM AN ELONGATED PASSAGE OF SMALL PREDETERMINEDCROSS-SECTION SUBSTANTIALLY SMALLER THAN THE CROSS-SECTION OF THEPASSAGE IN SAID BODY PORTION AND IN COMMUNICATION AT OPNE END WITH SAIDSTEM AND HAVING ITS DISCHARGE END OF SAID PERIPHERAL WALL, A RECESS ONONE OF SAID MEMBERS AND A PROJECTION ON THE OTHER OF SAID MEMBERS, SAIDRECESS AND PROJECTIONS COOPERATING TO PREVENT RELATIVE ROTATIONALMOVEMENT OF SAID MEMBERS.